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I hear ya. I have to exercise some discretion as to who I let in on my great and horrible secret. Still, it's much better than in O'Hair's time.
Things are definitely getting better. You hear about more and more people who are coming out of the religious closet these days. I just find it ironic, though, that Christians (or other religious groups for that matter) cry about persecution and unequitable treatment all the time when they are the ones usually doling it out. "They" also talk about standing up for what you believe and not being ashamed- but if anyone else does it, watch out.
More like vice versa. Why are atheists so hostile to believers?
I do not think it is either!
Everyone has beliefs. Some people choose to espouse them publically and when they do so they risk having others disagree with them.
They can either deal with that or they can not. If they can not then I question the wisdom of them espousing their beliefs publically in the first place.
What tends to happen to the ones that can not deal with it however is they play emotional cards. They pretend to be “offended” or that people are being “intolerant” or “hostile” or “angry” or some other word…
… whatever the word they choose, what they are SAYING is the same thing and it is “I am entirely incapable of defending my beliefs from you, or of backing up the beliefs I myself just chose to espouse… so I am going to try and shut you up by pretending the problem actually lies with you and not me”.
There is no one group who has a monopoly on this either. I have seen atheists do it, I have seen theists do it, I have seen republicans do it I have seen democrats do it. In fact no matter what argument I can think of, I can not think of a single one where people have not done it.
Few people actually ARE being “angry” and “hostile” though of course there will always be some. What MOST are doing however is simply listening to what you have to say, and simply disagreeing with it. Anyone who feels this is “angry” or “hostile” simply needs to grow up some.
I approve of Michael Newdow. "under god" has got to go. So does "In God We Trust".
I don't know much about O'Hair. I remember reading about her as a kid, and my memories are that she was a nutjob. But I was also a good catholic kid, so I am sure that skewed my thinking.
I happen to agree--that doesn't mean he hasn't raised a big stink.
The believers declare atheists to be hostile...but provide no explanation.
The believers have little else to rely upon. Since recent decades the believers have come out of the churches and moved into politics to demand that much be changed to suit their likes and dislikes. All based not on logic but on religion without explanation. To counter resistance they have no alternative but hostility for opposing views.
The believers have problems with hard questions and try to weasel around them. When this is pointed out they become hostile.
Being offended is a religious trait.
One should not make the mistake to expect or seek tolerance in religions or religious people.
It's pretty much still is the same way now... at least where I live. I can't just point blank come out and say I don't believe in God. I would be completely ostracised.
Since I've started openly admitting it, I've had my car vandalized, I've been fired from at least one job for being an atheist, I've gotten anonymous hate-notes where I work, and I've had a lot of really hateful things said to me, including that I should be dead.
Yes, this is the USA, not some third-world country. Granted, I don't truly fear for my life, like someone in Pakistan etc might, but there is still a great deal of anger, fear, and hostility towards us. Now that my kids are grown and gone, what I say will have no effect on anyone but me, so I say what I think.
Christers want to vandalize my car, or send me hate mail? Fine. It just validates my point.
The believers declare atheists to be hostile...but provide no explanation.
The believers have little else to rely upon. Since recent decades the believers have come out of the churches and moved into politics to demand that much be changed to suit their likes and dislikes. All based not on logic but on religion without explanation. To counter resistance they have no alternative but hostility for opposing views. The believers have problems with hard questions and try to weasel around them. When this is pointed out they become hostile.
Being offended is a religious trait.
One should not make the mistake to expect or seek tolerance in religions or religious people.
You mean like when a good friend of mine....yes, good friend....got ranting about the lack of morality of atheists and how we just want to destroy religion so everybody can do wantever immoral things they want and when I asked him a 'hard question"..........
"Oh, so you are saying I have no morals?"
He could not answer, got all frustrated and red in the face and stomped off.
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